Mitsubishi Corp. and JALUX Inc. said Monday they have obtained preferential negotiating rights from the Myanmar government to operate Mandalay International Airport and remodel its passenger terminal.
If the consortium, which includes SPA Project Management Ltd., a Myanmar company, wins the order, it will set up a joint venture with Myanmar’s Department of Civil Aviation to run the airport for 30 years starting in 2014.
The project is estimated to cost about ¥6 billion.
The two Japanese firms said the project would capitalize on Mitsubishi’s expertise in the improvement of airport facilities and the know-how of JALUX, the only Japanese company with experience in operating airports overseas. JALUX is affiliated with major trader Sojitz Corp.
Mandalay airport, currently operated by the Myanmar government, is a domestic hub. In 2012, it was used by some 580,000 passengers, up about 20 percent from the previous year.
The number of users is expected to grow thanks to economic development and growing interest in tourism in the Southeast Asian country.